Deans and administrators from each college suggested one of their faculty members who deserves special “kudos” during Faculty Appreciation Week.
By designing projects that include sustainable homes, a visitors’ center and an observation platform for a local state park, Assistant Professor Tricia Stuth and her students are improving the world one project at a time.
“The most important thing to teach future designers is to think critically and creatively about the world to which their work will contribute,” said Stuth, a faculty member in the College of Architecture and Design and a registered architect.
Her work — both inside and outside of the college — has not gone unnoticed. Stuth has been recognized nationally for her contributions to both academia and the profession. She recently recognized with a significant national award: the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture 2010 New Faculty Teaching Award. Her firm CURB, which she runs with architecture Professor Ted Shelton, won an Award of Excellence from AIA Tennessee.
Stuth also led some of her students to impressive honors. She was a faculty co-adviser to a UT student group that won top honors at the Environmental Protection Agency’s annual P3s student design competition for sustainability. The same team also was honored at UT Knoxville’s 2009 EUReCA competition, as was the group of students who worked on the visitors’ center at Panther Creek State Park.
“She has truly made outstanding contributions in teaching, research and service and is a wonderful representative of our college,” said Dean John McRae.
Stuth also takes seriously being a mentor to students, both those already in the program and those aspiring to pursue design in college. Three years ago she started a summer design camp for high school students interested in architecture and design. The camp, Design Matters, continues to be a success in attracting and recruiting prospective students.
“The best thing about being a professor of architecture is the ability — necessity really — to research and theorize, to apply concepts to design, and then to reflect on them through critical writings, discussions and direct experience,” Stuth said. “The process of knowledge seeking, dissemination and refinement is what I value most, and the university culture, faculty and student body, and visitors to the campus, add to this experience.”
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In honor of Faculty Appreciation Week, Tennessee Today is featuring stories and videos based on comments about great faculty members submitted by students, alumni and others.
You can send a shout out to your favorite faculty member or read what others have written.
Also this week, area merchants will offer a variety of discounts for UT faculty.